Seating

General/non-preferred exit row seats

• Corporate customers - identified through their BACCI number and a keyword that must be entered at time of booking
  (Please see the GDS keyword instructions at the bottom of this page for instructions on how to enter a keyword in the correct format. The travel/corporate agent should enter this at the time of making the booking)

• Customers booked on fully flexible tickets - J, C, W, Y

• All customers who travel in First

• Frequent flyers - Premier, Gold, and Silver British Airways Executive Club members and oneworld® equivalents
  Note: It is important that you enter the Executive Club number (or equivalent oneworld number) in the PNR so that you can access the seat map at the time of booking. Alternatively your customer will be able to access the seat map via Manage my Booking on ba.com.

• Customers travelling with infants

Preferred exit row seats

On 7 October 2009, British Airways introduced a paid seating option for customers who wish to pre-assign preferred exit row seats in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus.

Premier, Gold and oneworld Emerald card holders can continue to pre-assign preferred exit row seats free of charge at any time between booking and departure, subject to availability.

The following customers will only be able to pre-assign preferred exit row seats in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus between 10 and 4 days before travel.

These seats must be requested online, via Manage My Booking / MMB cul-de-sac on ba.com, and a fee of £50/$75 (or local currency equivalent) will apply:

• Silver, Blue and oneworld Sapphire & Ruby card holders
• Customers travelling on a corporate dealt ticket using a BACCI code
• Customers holding bookings in W and Y
• Customers travelling on all other fare types including redemptions

Please advise your customers to use online check-in from 24 hours up to 1 hour before departure. (For flights departing from North America, online check-in is open from 24 hours up to 2 hours before departure.)

Go to online check-in

Customers may also check-in at the airport using the self-service kiosks, which are available at selected airports, or at an airport check-in desk.

Find out about check-in options

On 7 October 2009, British Airways launched a new service to give customers more control over their seating options. As an enhancement to the free seating service we already offer to most passengers, certain customers will now have the option to pay to select ‘general’ and ‘non-preferred exit row’ seats in their cabin when they book their flights. In addition, customers travelling in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus can now pay to secure the popular ‘preferred exit row’ seats in these cabins between 10 and 4 days before travel.

General seats

These are ‘regular’ window, aisle and middle seats in each cabin. They do not include ‘preferred’ seats that provide specific benefits and/or are in high demand (e.g. bulkhead, upper deck or additional legroom seats and bassinet positions). Paid allocation of general seats is available in the following cabins:

• Club World – main deck only
• Club Europe
• World Traveller Plus
• World Traveller
• Euro Traveller
• Domestic

Non-preferred exit row seats

These are seats that are immediately next to, or behind, the exit door area on the aircraft. Passengers occupying these seats are expected to assist the crew in the event of an emergency evacuation and must comply with certain CAA requirements in order to purchase them. These seats may not necessarily provide additional legroom or personal space. They are priced, selected and sold in exactly the same way as General seating and are available in Club World (main deck only), Club Europe, Euro Traveller and Domestic cabins.

Preferred exit row seats

These are exit row seats in the World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins. They are classed as ‘preferred’ seats because in most cases they provide additional personal space. We charge a premium for these seats and they are priced, selected and sold separately from general seating.

Note: All customers travelling in First are eligible to pre-assign their seats free of charge.

Online on ba.com

With effect from 19 January 2010, Agents and customers should request and pay for the following seats online, via Manage My Booking / MMB cul-de-sac on ba.com:

• General seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Non-preferred exit row seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Preferred exit row seats – available from 10 days (240hrs) until 4 days (96hrs) before departure

Please see the ‘Paid seating – Buying paid seating online on ba.com’ section for further details.

BA contact centres

Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible. They should only call their local BA contact centre in the following circumstances:

• To make changes to existing paid seating requests, for example following a change in itinerary
• To upgrade an existing general/non-preferred exit row seat, which they have paid for, to a preferred exit row seat.

Please see the ‘Paid seating – Servicing paid seating via BA contact centres’ section for further details.

Note: In early 2010 we will be extending ba.com capability further; so that Agents and customers can service paid seating changes online themselves. We will communicate more details about this nearer the time.

No. Premier cardholders, Gold and Silver Executive Club members, and oneworld equivalents, are able to pre-assign certain seats for free at time of booking dependent on their Executive Club status.

Corporate customers who have been allocated a BACCI code, passengers with fully flexible bookings and passengers traveling with infants, will also continue to receive allocated seating free of charge at time of booking.

All other passengers are able to pre-assign available seats for free at online check-in, from 24 hours before their flight.

Paid seating is available on all British Airways operated & marketed flights, including flights from London City to New York (JFK).

Passengers who are booked on BA operated & marketed services, but ticketed on other carrier's paper (for example 081 / QF tickets), can buy seating for the BA operated & marketed sectors in their itinerary by going online to ba.com. 

BA paid seating is not available on:

• Flights operated or marketed by Cityflyer, any BA franchisee, codeshare partner, or alliance airline.
• All unticketed bookings - bookings must be ticketed before we can accept payment for seating.
• Groups/Allocation bookings of more than 10 passengers (for example, IT or cruise bookings).
• Group bookings under 9 passengers with a ‘NGST’ or ‘GSST’ keyword.
• Skyflyers Solo bookings (children travelling alone).

Agents and customers can purchase general/non-preferred exit row seating online on ba.com from time of booking until online check in opens at 24hrs before departure.

Agents and customers can purchase preferred exit row seating in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus online on ba.com from 10 days (240 hrs) until 4 days (96hrs) before departure. 

Premier, Gold and oneworld Emerald card holders are entitled to pre-assign preferred exit row seating in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus, at no charge, from time of booking until departure, subject to availability. (The Executive Club number, when placed in any reservation, will open the seat map if the tier status allows.)

We will honour all existing seat assignments without need for further payment. However, if a customer makes a change to their seat assignment or requests a new seat assignment after 7 October 2009, then this will be subject to charge, regardless of the date the booking was made.

The amount of seats available for paid seating will vary depending on demand and operational requirements.

We have maintained existing target rules that protect certain seat types for the benefit of different groups of passengers (e.g. families, Premier and Gold cardholders). Paid seating customers will not be eligible to sit in certain seat types, in order to protect customers who are eligible to pre-assign their seats for free. For example:

• Paid seating customers will not be eligible to sit in the upper deck in Club World
• The first few rows of Club Europe will only be available to Premier & Gold cardholders
• Only passengers traveling with infants will be eligible to sit in bassinet seats
• Paid seating customers will not be eligible to sit in bulkhead seats

Yes. If payment is required for seating then the booking must be ticketed before the seat is requested. Bookings do not need to be ticketed where passengers are able to pre-assign their seats for free.

Where a customer is eligible to purchase paid seating the following charges apply. (Prices correct as at 9 February 2010 and are subject to change. GBP, USD and EUR prices are fixed. The fee will be converted from GBP into local currency where applicable):

Paid seating prices vary dependent on cabin of travel and seat type (i.e. general/non-preferred exit row seats vs. preferred exit row seats). They do not vary by route or sector length.

General seating

General seating aims to allow customers to pre-assign seats together in advance of online check in. Therefore when purchasing general seating, seat allocations must be purchased for all passengers in the booking.

Non-preferred exit row & preferred exit row seating

We recognize that not all passengers will be suitable, nor wish, to sit in a non-preferred exit row or preferred exit row seat. Therefore, individual passengers in a booking can choose to pre-assign non-preferred exit row or preferred exit row seating.

Note: All passengers in a booking will need to purchase seating but the seats need not be of the same type.

Yes, as per the current seating policy, eligibility is extended across the PNR - i.e. when seating is available to one person for free, then all people in the PNR are entitled to free seating.

No. We must have the Credit Card Verification (CCV) number in order to process the paid seating transaction. We cannot accept payment cards that do not have a CCV number. This applies to the original purchase transaction online on ba.com, and to upgrades or changes made through BA contact centres.

Yes. With effect from 19 January 2010, Agents and customers should request and pay for the following seats online, via Manage My Booking on ba.com for direct-booked customers, or MMB cul-de-sac for Trade customers (to ensure that BA does not encourage direct sales through this initiative):

• General seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Non-preferred exit row seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Preferred exit row seats – available from 10 days (240hrs) until 4 days (96hrs) before departure

Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible.

In early 2010 we will be extending ba.com capability further, so that Agents and customers can service paid seating changes online themselves. We will communicate more details about this nearer the time.

Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible. They should only call their local BA contact centre in the following circumstances:

• To make changes to existing paid seating requests, for example following a change in itinerary
• To upgrade an existing general/non-preferred exit row seat, which they have paid for, to a preferred exit row seat.

Please see the ‘Paid seating – Servicing paid seating via BA contact centres’ section for further details.

In early 2010 we will be extending ba.com capability further, so that Agents and customers can service paid seating changes online themselves. We will communicate more details about this nearer the time.

The benefits of selecting and paying for general seating online include:

• No requirement to make a call to the BA contact centres
• Agents and Customers will be able to see the seat map for their flights and select the best available seats for their needs
• Much faster process – instant selection of seating
• Easier payment with fewer restrictions (Please note that some online payments will be subject to additional verification by the credit card companies – i.e. “Verified by Visa” and “Secured Mastercard” checks. This is determined by the card issuer and is outside of BAs’ control)
• More points of sale and currencies are supported online

Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible. They should only call their local BA contact centre in the following circumstances:

• To make changes to existing paid seating requests, for example following a change in itinerary
• To upgrade an existing general/non-preferred exit row seat, which they have paid for, to a preferred exit row seat.

In early 2010 we will be extending ba.com capability further, so that Agents and customers can service seating changes online themselves. We will communicate more details about this nearer the time.

UK Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible.

UK consumers should call the UK BA contact centre to service existing paid seating requests only. The telephone number is 0844 493 0787 and is charged at National Rate. When prompted by the call-flow system, they should choose Option 3 (“Existing Bookings”). Most mobile operators will allow calls to this number, although the rate may be considerably higher.

UK Trade agents should call the UK BA contact centre on 0844 493 0787 to service existing paid seating requests only. This is a national rate number. When prompted by the call-flow system, they should choose Option 3 (“Existing Bookings”). For any other Trade services, agents must contact Trade Support.

Overseas Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible.

Overseas consumers should call their local BA call centre to service existing paid seating requests only. Call charges will be dependant on the local operator and country the customer is calling from. When prompted by the call-flow system, they should choose the “Existing Bookings” option.

Overseas Trade agents should call their local Trade Support or BA call centre, as per existing processes, to service existing paid seating requests only. Call charges will be dependant on the local operator and country the agent is calling from. When prompted by the call-flow system, they should choose the “Existing Bookings” option.

It is important to understand that there are 2 types of exit row seats:

Non-preferred exit row seats

These are seats that are immediately next to, or behind, the exit door area on the aircraft. Passengers occupying these seats are expected to assist the crew in the event of an emergency evacuation and must comply with certain CAA requirements in order to purchase them. These seats may not necessarily provide additional legroom or personal space. They are priced, selected and sold in exactly the same way as general seating and are available in Club World (main deck only), Club Europe, Euro Traveller and Domestic cabins.

Preferred exit row seats

These are exit row seats in the World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins. They are classed as ‘preferred’ seats because in most cases they provide additional personal space. We charge a premium for these seats and they are priced, selected and sold separately from general seating.

Premier, Gold and oneworld Emerald cardholders are eligible to request non-preferred exit row and preferred exit row seats for themselves and any companions without charge, at the time of booking. 

The TCP keyword and TOGT keyword processes should now be used to request these seats for companions, regardless of whether they are in the same booking or on a separate PNR.

See the section 'Linking bookings for Premier, Gold and infant passengers' below.

Yes. In order to occupy a Non-preferred Exit Row or Preferred Exit Row seat, customers must comply with certain Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines – see CAA requirements below. When requesting exit row seating customers will be asked suitability questions on ba.com and by the BA contact centre and asked to confirm they fulfil the CAA criteria. If, on presenting themselves at the boarding gate or onboard, it is apparent that they do not comply, we will move them to another General seat and they will not be eligible for a refund.

In accordance with CAA requirements, the following categories of customers cannot be allocated an exit seat:

• Customers who are either substantially blind or substantially deaf, to the extent that they might not readily understand printed or verbal instructions given
• Customers who are unable to understand and carry out instructions given in English
• Customers who are unable to reach, open, lift and throw out the exit door in an emergency
• Customers who because of physical stature, age or sickness have difficulty in moving quickly
• Children under 16 (whether accompanied or not) and infants

For paid seating requests made online on ba.com a ‘tick box’ with the disclaimer will be displayed, which the customer must accept.  Where requesting a change to an existing paid seat assignment via one of our call centres, the disclaimer will be read out to the customer at time of making the seat change.

Yes. If exit row seating is available on the new flight then the customer can pre-assign this by calling their local BA contact centre. However, if there is no equivalent seat available on the new flight, the customer will be invited to pre-assign a General seat instead. In all cases a refund will not be given.

Customers who wish to purchase preferred exit row seating can do so online on ba.com between 10 days (240 hrs) and 4 days (96 hours) prior to departure. preferred exit row seating that has not been sold at 4 days to departure will be removed from sale at that time. Subject to availability, these seats will then become available for selection again, free of charge, from 24 hours to departure, either via Online Check-in or at the airport.

Please note that Premier & Gold cardholders can pre-assign all exit row seating, free of charge, at any time from point of booking until 24 hours before departure. They will, therefore, still be able to assign all non-preferred exit row and preferred exit row seats, free of charge, between 4 days (96 hours) and 24 hours, subject to availability.

Silver card holders, passengers with fully flexible bookings and passengers whose booking contains a BACCI code can pre-assign non-preferred exit row seating free of charge at any time from point of booking, but will need to pay for preferred exit row seats between 10 days and 4 days before departure, subject to availability.

In all cases the allocation of exit row seating will occur on a first-come, first-served basis.

No. Preferred exit row seats can only be purchased on longhaul flights in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus. Customers can purchase non-preferred exit row seats on shorthaul flights in the same way as they would purchase general seating. Those who are eligible to pre-assign a seat for free will be able to assign a non-preferred exit row seat on shorthaul flights, if available, for no extra charge.

Yes. With effect from 19 January 2010, customers who have booked through the Trade should request and pay for the following seats online, via Manage My Booking / MMB cul-de-sac on ba.com:

• General seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Non-preferred exit row seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Preferred exit row seats – available from 10 days (240hrs) until 4 days (96hrs) before departure

Trade customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible. They should only call their local BA contact centre in the following circumstances:

• To make changes to existing paid seating requests, for example following a change in itinerary
• To upgrade an existing general/non-preferred exit row seat, which they have paid for, to a preferred exit row seat.

Please see the ‘Paid seating – Servicing paid seating via BA contact centres’ section for further details.

Trade agents may undertake the above transactions on their customers’ behalf. In all cases Trade customers must hold an eligible booking. Not all bookings are eligible for pre-paid seating. These include:

• Bookings on flights operated & marketed by Cityflyer, any BA franchisee, codeshare partner, or alliance airline.
• All un-ticketed bookings - bookings must be ticketed before we can accept payment for seating.
• Groups/Allocation bookings of more than 10 passengers (for example, IT or cruise bookings).
• Group bookings under 9 passengers with a ‘NGST’ or ‘GSST’ keyword.
• Skyflyers Solo bookings (children travelling alone)

In early 2010 we will be extending ba.com capability further, so that Trade customers can service paid seating changes online themselves. We will communicate more details about this nearer the time.

With effect from 19 January 2010, Agents and customers who have booked through the Trade should request and pay for the following seats online, via Manage My Booking / MMB cul-de-sac on ba.com:

• General seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Non-preferred exit row seats – available from time of booking until 24hrs before departure
• Preferred exit row seats – available from 10 days (240hrs) until 4 days (96hrs) before departure

Please see the ‘Paid seating – Buying paid seating online on ba.com’ section for further details.

BA contact centres

Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible. They should only call their local BA contact centre in the following circumstances:

• To make changes to existing paid seating requests, for example following a change in itinerary
• To upgrade an existing general/non-preferred exit row seat, which they have paid for, to a preferred exit row seat.

Please see the ‘Paid seating – Servicing paid seating via BA contact centres’ section for further details.

Note: In early 2010 we will be extending ba.com capability further, so that Agents and customers can service seating changes online themselves. We will communicate more details about this nearer the time.

Agents and customers must purchase paid seating online on ba.com wherever possible. They should only call their local BA contact centre in the following circumstances:

• To make changes to existing paid seating requests, for example following a change in itinerary
• To upgrade an existing general/non-preferred exit row seat, which they have paid for, to a preferred exit row seat.

UK Trade agents should call the UK BA contact centre on 0844 493 0787 to service existing paid seating requests only. This is a national rate number.  When prompted by the call-flow system, they should choose Option 3 (“Existing Bookings”). For any other Trade services, agents must contact Trade Support.

Overseas Trade agents should call their local Trade Support or BA call centre, as per existing processes, to service existing paid seating requests only. Call charges will be dependant on the local operator and country the agent is calling from. When prompted by the call-flow system, they should choose the “Existing Bookings” option.

In early 2010 we will be extending ba.com capability further, so that Agents and customers can service seating changes online themselves. We will communicate more details about this nearer the time.

Yes. This facility will continue to be available to those who are eligible.

However, please note that in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus, customers who benefit from a BACCI code to access General seating will be required to pay an additional fee to request a Preferred Exit Row seat. In this scenario the travel agent should request a preferred exit row seat online, via Manage My Booking / MMB cul-de-sac on ba.com.

Yes. If payment is required for seating then the booking must be ticketed before the seat is requested. Bookings do not need to be ticketed where passengers are able to pre-assign their seats for free.

Yes. Current arrangements that allow the Trade to access the seat map have not changed.

The seating process remains as previously. Once the booking has been TCP’d, the agent should Q this to the seating team who will seat the passengers together, subject to seat availability, free of charge.

The passenger, or the agent who made the booking, should firstly make the necessary changes to the itinerary. They should then call their local BA contact centre (e.g. 0844 493 0787 in the UK) to request that the paid seating be re-allocated to the new flight. We will endeavour to seat the passenger in the same seat on their new flight and, if not, a suitable equivalent (e.g. window for window, aisle for aisle). Until Spring 2010 we are only able to do this by canceling the customer’s original seat allocation, refunding their payment, then taking a new payment instruction for the new seat allocation. In all cases, if a suitable equivalent seat cannot be found, a refund will not be given.

The paid seating transaction should be made through the trade agent rather than the wholesaler, who is unlikely to have any commercial relationship with the passenger themselves.

Yes. Passengers who are booked on BA operated & marketed services, but ticketed on other carrier's paper (for example 081 / QF tickets), can buy seating for the BA operated & marketed sectors in their itinerary by going online to ba.com. 

These groups can be automatically seated in blocks (where available) at -7 days to departure when the agent follows the block seating process; or the agent can seat the group from the seat map at -4 days if they follow the seat map group seating process. Both of these seating options are free of charge.

Paid seating will not be possible where:

• There are 10 or more persons in the PNR.
• There are up to 9 persons in the PNR, but the booking has not been ticketed.
• The booking contains a ‘NGST’ or ‘GSST’ keyword (in this instance paid seating may be offered on ticketed bookings with less than 10 passengers, but the Agent will not be able to complete the seat request transaction and will instead get an error during the process).

If a passenger is, knowingly or unknowingly, in a group PNR of 10 or more persons and tries to buy paid seating online on ba.com, or via their local BA contact centre, they will be informed that their booking is not eligible for paid seating.  If pressed by the customer we will explain that we cannot offer paid seating because their booking is part of a wider group booking. We will neither refer the booking back to the Agent, nor request that it is split-out into a separate PNR.

A seat request cannot be guaranteed, as it may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft.

In the event that we need to change a customer’s seat we will endeavour to seat them in a suitable alternative. We will look to seat the party together in the first instance, and then if possible in the customer’s choice of window seat, middle seat or aisle seat. If a customer has paid for a preferred exit row seat we should try to seat them in another preferred exit row seat. As part of the terms and conditions of sale we advise a customer that, if we are unable to offer an alternative seat as set out above, they are eligible to apply for a refund. In this instance they should be referred to ba.com/paidseating where they can view our refund policy and complete their refund application.

Yes. Customers can change their seat on ba.com once Online Check-In opens at 24hrs before departure, or at the self-service kiosks at the airport.

If a customer has paid to select a seat, they will still able to change their booking. However, they will not be able to re-assign a new seat on ba.com, or via the Trade. To do this they will need to call British Airways to assign them the same seat, or a suitable alternative, on the new flight (subject to availability). Until Spring 2010 we are only able to do this by canceling the customer’s original seat allocation, refunding their payment, then taking a new payment instruction for the new seat allocation. In all cases, if a suitable equivalent seat cannot be found, a refund will not be given.

Customers who have pre-booked a preferred exit row seat will be notified by email if we make a change to the seat in their booking. Customers who have their exit seat changed at the airport in DCS, or who have paid for a general/non-preferred exit row seat, will not be proactively notified of a seat change. If we have to change a customer’s seat we should seat them in a suitable alternative. If they are unhappy with the alternative offered they should be referred to ba.com/paidseating where they can view our refund policy and apply for a refund if eligible.

Paid seating is non-refundable in most circumstances. The only exceptions are:

• Where there is an aircraft change and BA is unable to seat the customer in a suitable alternative seat on the new aircraft.
• Where there is a flight disruption, causing a customer to be moved to another flight, and BA is unable to seat them in a suitable alternative seat on the new flight.  

Paid seating will not be refunded if a customer cancels their flight, are involuntarily upgraded due to over sales, or are not suitable to sit in the specific seat type they have selected (e.g. exit row seating). If, in accordance with their fare rules, a customer chooses to move to a different flight, they will be entitled to choose a suitable alternative seat on the new flight. If a suitable alternative seat is not available the amount paid for their seat assignment will be forfeited and will not be refunded. 

Terms and conditions that outline the circumstances under which a customer is eligible to apply for a refund can be found at ba.com/paidseating.

If a customer is eligible for a refund they must apply within 14 days of the date of the last flight in their itinerary, by completing the online form at ba.com/paidseating.

Refund applications cannot be submitted or processed at the airport or onboard. 

If a customer is unable to apply for a refund online at ba.com they should telephone their local BA contact centre, who will assist them with alternative arrangements.

Customers have 14 days after the date of the last flight in their itinerary to apply for a refund. All refunds will be processed centrally. Refund applications cannot be submitted or processed at the airport or onboard. 

If a customer becomes eligible for a refund before travel, e.g. due to a schedule or aircraft change, they should telephone their local BA contact centre, who will process the refund for them.

Passengers should allow up to 30 days for their refund request to be processed.

Yes. There is no change to the current proposition for these customers.

The allocation of preferred exit row seats will occur on a first-come, first-served basis.

Premier and Gold cardholders can pre-assign preferred exit row seats, free of charge, at any time from point of booking until 24 hours before departure, subject to availability.

All other customers who wish to purchase preferred exit row seating can only do so between 10 days and 4 days (96 hours) prior to departure. Preferred exit row seats that have not been sold at 4 days (96 hours) to departure will be removed from sale at that time. Subject to availability, they will then become available for selection again, free of charge, from 24 hours to departure, either via Online Check-in or at the airport.

No, not at the present time.

With the exception of customers travelling in First, customers on redemption tickets are eligible to purchase paid seating (all customers travelling in First are eligible to pre-assign their seats free of charge). If a customer travelling on a redemption booking holds a Premier, Gold or Silver Executive card then this will also enable them to pre-assign their seat free of charge.

Miles-for-upgrade bookings are made in redemption classes and, as per current processes, are not eligible for free pre-allocated seating. Customers can, however, choose to pay to pre-assign their seat on these bookings. If a customer travelling on a miles-for-upgrade booking holds a Premier, Gold or Silver Executive card then this will enable them to pre-assign their seat at no extra cost.

Customers with additional needs will still need to let us know of their particular requirements by contacting their local BA office. If a specific seat is required for their condition this will be manually allocated free of charge. Only seats that have been designated for this purpose will be available. Most passengers with additional needs will be able to choose their seating online.

We appreciate that it is very important for families travelling with babies to be able to organise their seating at the earliest opportunity. Therefore customers travelling with an infant (under 2yrs) will be able to select their seat online at time of booking, free of charge. They will have exclusive access to the bassinet positions and will also be able to choose from any other suitable seat, e.g. those with extra oxygen masks.

Unaccompanied Minors (UMs) will be allocated seats in the designated area of the aircraft prior to check-in. Any spare seats in the row will be automatically protected allowing control over who is seated in these seats. On the rare occasion that an un-notified UM arrives at check-in we will follow the agreed process for operational seat changes. UMs cannot select their seats online.

Customers with additional needs who have specific seating requirements are identified by a keyword in their PNR. They are either able to choose their own seat at the time of booking, or will be allocated a seat by BA before departure. In the event that they wish to change their seat, they must contact BA so that we can identify and allocate them a new seat that is suitable for their needs.

The following additional needs keywords are used to identify passengers with additional needs who require specific seating:

It is very important that the correct wheelchair keyword is used. Please take note of the keywords below and make sure that you request the correct keyword, depending on the customer's needs:

Note: The WCHC keyword will generate a request for a high lift vehicle for non-jetty served flights.

It is important that the relevant keyword is added to the booking even if the customer is taking his or her own wheelchair.

Current legislation states that a customer with a disability should be permitted to pre-book their seat on a first come first served basis, and if their disability causes them to need a specific seat (e.g. bulkhead) then we must meet their request.

Customers with fused or immobilised legs are also entitled to a bulkhead seat, or a seat with sufficient legroom.

Some medical conditions, which would be categorised as disabilities, are not necessarily covered by one of the keywords already agreed for pre-seating.

Customers with a disability requiring specific seating fall into the following categories:

• Passengers who have informed us of their disability and require one or more of the following keywords to be added to their booking: DEAF / BLND / WCHC / WCHS
• Passengers who have a disability which requires clearance to fly, in which case the MEDA keyword should be used to request medical clearance from BAHS
• Passengers who have informed us that they are travelling with an assistance dog in the cabin (PETC)

In order to be compliant with current legislation, and to assist those passengers who have a disability that does not fit into the above categories but does require specific seating, please use the SMED keyword to request a seat.

Government Affairs, Equality & Diversity and BA Health Services have identified the following medical conditions as not requiring specific seating:

• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• DVT, thrombosis or blood clot
• Elderly, frail or slow walker
• Fear of flying, nervous or scared
• Full leg casts (First or Club World cabin only)
• Half leg casts
• Heart pacemaker or heart condition
• Injured or bad back, toe, ankle or any other body part
• Pregnant
• Speech impaired
• Tall passengers

It is important that the CHD keyword is included in all bookings that include a child of 12 years or under, even when accompanied by an adult.

It is important that the INF keyword is included in all bookings that include an infant under the age of two.

If a bassinet is also required please ensure that this is requested correctly through the GDS.

Please remember that customers who are travelling with infants can choose their seats at time of booking at no extra charge.

Should a Premier, Gold or oneworld Emerald card holder, or a family travelling with an infant, request advance seating with someone booked on a separate PNR, please follow the TCP (The Complete Party) process using the guidelines below.

Also, from 7 October 2009, if a Premier, Gold or oneworld Emerald card holder requests advance seating in a non-preferred exit row or preferred exit row with someone who is booked in the same PNR, please follow the guidelines for inserting both the TCP and TOGT keywords below.

1. Ensure that the correct SSRs have been entered into the eligible Premier, Gold or infant booking:
   • All infant PNRs must have the relevant SSR infant entry in the eligible booking.
   • Premier & Gold PNRs must contain the executive card membership number as an SSR FQTV item in the eligible booking.
2. Ensure that seat numbers have been confirmed for all eligible Premier, Gold and infant PNRs, according to the current booking process.
3. Ensure that the TCP bookings are linked, by adding all the eligible Amadeus PNR record locators in the correct format into all the PNRs for which seats are required.

4. Add the TOGT keyword only in the eligible booking. If it is added in the correct format it will then trigger an automatic queuing process at end of transaction.

Note: The free format text following the keyword is mandatory and is used to add further seat request information.

• Seat requests will only be actioned for the flight and date segments on which the party is travelling with the eligible passenger.
• The request will be reviewed, and if possible the passengers will be seated as requested.
• If the requested seats are not available, BA will book the closest seats together e.g. opposite aisles.
• No action will be taken on PNRs for other customer types, or PNRs that do not contain the OSI TCP field.
• We will not be able to use a certain restricted seats e.g. Non-Preferred Exit Rows, Preferred Exit Rows and bassinet/cot seats which are only available to qualifying passengers.
• PNRs will not be queued. It is the agent's responsibility to check the PNRs for seat allocation.

The customer will be allocated a seat number in advance subject to availability. Seat requests are never guaranteed and are subject to operational changes.

Before making any seat map or advance seat request entry, you will need to undertake the following simple steps:

1. Add the relevant keyword or information into the booking, if applicable.
2. At the end of the booking transaction enter ** which will then transmit the information to the BA (Amadeus) PNR and, provided it is in the correct format, you will then be able to access the seating functionality.
   Note: If the information has been correctly sent to the BA Amadeus PNR, any request for a seat made after 'end transaction' will be successful, provided there are seats available. Any request made before 'end transaction' (i.e. before the information has been stored in the BA Amadeus PNR) will not work.
3. If you are booking a customer into the First class cabin, another eligible booking class in another cabin, or if they are an eligible Executive Club or oneworld equivalent cardholder, you will be able to view the seat map from the PNR as normal.
   Note: for all customers other than Premier and Gold cardholders, Preferred Exit Row seats in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus can only be purchased for customers by calling the local BA Contact Centre.
4. For all other customers who are eligible for seating at time of booking you can either make a generic seat request or, if you wish to view the seat map prior to making a seat request, you can do so by using the 'long entry' format from outside the PNR. This can be done using the cabin class (J/C/W/Y) instead of the selling class.
   This will then allow you to see what seats are available in that cabin. Specific seats can then be requested using the normal entry and, provided the customer is able to select a seat at time of booking, the request will result in a seat number in the PNR.

• Sabre/Abacus/Infini
  4G*BAFlight No.ClassDateCity Codes.
  e.g. 4G*BA117Y25JANLHRJFK enter
• Galileo
  SA*BAFlight No.ClassDateCity Codes
  e.g. SA*BA117Y20FEBLHRJFK
• Apollo
  9V/BAFlight No.ClassDateBoardpoint
  e.g. 9V/BA117Y20FEBLHR
• Worldspan
  @BA@BAFlight No.ClassDateCity Codes
  e.g. @BA@BA117Y10FEBJFKLHR
• Axess
  AC/BAFlight No.ClassDateCity Codes
  e.g. AC/BA005Y01FEBLHRNRT
  

If you are still unable to access seating, please take the following steps:

1. Re-check that the customer is eligible to select a seat at time of booking.

2. Check that the relevant information has been added correctly and that the PNR has been 'end transacted' already.

3. Check to see if there are still seats available by using the long entry to view the seat map, as the flight or cabin may now be full.

4. If you have completed these checks and are still unable to access seating, please raise a fault with your GDS helpdesk in the normal way.

5. Contact British Airways.